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Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has dismissed the controversy surrounding his antics with Antarctic wildlife as a "big storm in a teacup".

Mr Irwin today confirmed his company Best Picture Show was under federal government investigation for a possible breach of wildlife laws after he took a dip in the Antarctic with humpback whales, slid in the snow with penguins and came face to face with a lumbering leopard seal.

Interacting with Antarctic wildlife is forbidden and offences can attract fines up to $1 million and two years' jail.

The furore follows the row that engulfed Mr Irwin in January when he was filmed feeding dead chickens to a four-metre crocodile while clutching his one-month-old son Bob.

The latest concerns relate to a wildlife film shot in the Antarctic earlier this year.

Promotions screened in the United States describe how he slides down slopes with penguins, almost rubs noses with a dangerous leopard seal and spends an inspiring time swimming with two humpback whales.

Sharman Stone, parliamentary secretary to Environment Minister David Kemp, said Mr Irwin and his film crew had been briefed about just how close they could get to wildlife.

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Mrs Stone said an investigation was now under way to determine if the rules had been broken.

"We do hope that this is just very clever filming, that an impression has been given in the film that is not any real reflection of what actually happened," she told ABC radio.

"If what people are suggesting in this promotion is the case, maybe the penguins came up to Steve. He's great with animals as we know.

"But if there's any indication that in fact people approached the penguins and got too close to them, we'd be very concerned about that."

A promotional clip on the the Discovery Channel website shows Mr Irwin sliding down a snowy slope on his stomach attempting to imitate tobogganing penguins.

Another clip shows him with a leopard seal about a metre away.

Mr Irwin today said the matter was a misunderstanding and he had not breached any wildlife laws.

He said Australian environmental authorities had seen the film and given their approval.